There's a lot of talk about #China's rise in the #UnitedNations system (just ask @CourtneyFung & @oertel_janka). Every time I'm asked about this, I wonder why US and European diplomats don't underline one basic point: China is still a minor player in #humanitarian affairs [1/5]
Well, guess what: It looks like @State_IO, @USUN & @USAmbUN are suddenly going to start telling us *a lot* about #China's limited #humanitarian role in the context of #COVID19. Check out this US fact sheet, which Ambassador Craft tweeted recently... [2/5] https://www.state.gov/the-u-s-role-in-international-organizations-response-to-covid-19/
This #COVID19 @State_IO fact sheet is ostensibly a lovely list of US donations to @WHO, @UNICEF, @Refugees & @WFP. But on closer inspection a pattern emerges. Can you spot it? [3/5]
Yep, from hereon every US donation to a @UN #humanitarian agency is going to come with a helpful comparison to #China's (mainly quite paltry) contributions to the same [4/5].
Do I think it is wise for @State_IO/ @USUN to frame its #COVID19 response as "better than #China"? No. But if this data surprises you, @FGodement and I were flagging "China's incomplete investments in the UN" @ecfr years ago... [ENDS] https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_chinas_incomplete_investments_in_the_un5094